Mushrooms, neurotoxins from

Psilocybin can be isolated and crystallized or synthesized to nearly 100% purity. Research indicates that Psilocybe mushrooms produce a bitter alkaloid as an insecticide to protect itself from predators. In humans, psilocybin is a neurotoxin that can cause hallucinations. 

Psilocybin is a neurotoxin that targets the central nervous system and serotonin receptors in the brain when it is ingested. It is believed that the mushroom produces this bitter toxin as an insecticide to protect itself from predators. 

In a similar manner, these researchers have also synthesized [48] a C-8 side-chain analog 60 of domoic acid using a cobalt-mediated cyclization-elimination sequence on the iodide 59 (Scheme 22). They extended this methodology to an enantiospecific total synthesis of acromelic acid A 64, a potent neurotoxin obtained from poisonous mushrooms [46]. The cornerstone of their synthetic strategy was a cobalt-mediated radical cyclization of the substrate 61 which was prepared from the epoxy alcohol in optically pure form. Treatment of 61 with cobalt(I) afforded 62, which was converted to the natural product 64 via pyridone 63 using routine functional group manipulation (Scheme 23). 

Table 15.2). AMPA is a homologue of the neurotoxin ibotenic acid found in Amanita mushrooms. Kainate is a neurotoxin isolated from red algae. 

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